The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most popular day tour, a roughly 300-kilometer loop from Reykjavík that takes in three of the country’s most spectacular natural wonders. Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates visibly drift apart and where the world’s oldest parliament, the Althing, was established in 930 AD. The Geysir geothermal area features the explosively active Strokkur geyser, which erupts a column of boiling water up to 30 meters high every five to ten minutes. Gullfoss, the “Golden Waterfall,” is a thundering two-tiered cascade that plunges 32 meters into a narrow canyon, often crowned by rainbows on sunny days.

The route can easily be driven independently in a day, but guided tours add context about Iceland’s geology, saga history, and the volcanic forces that shape this extraordinary landscape.

Pro tip: Drive the circle counterclockwise starting with Þingvellir to stay ahead of the tour buses, which typically depart Reykjavík heading clockwise. Stop at the Friðheimar tomato farm between Geysir and Gullfoss for an unforgettable tomato soup lunch served inside a working greenhouse. In winter, consider adding a Silfra snorkeling excursion at Þingvellir for the surreal experience of floating between two continental plates in crystal-clear glacial water.